FACHREZA AKBAR

Finite Element Method Class Final Exam 166060100111014

7.1 For the finite element mesh shown in Figure P71, comment on the
goodness of the mesh. Indicate the mistakes in the model. Explain and show
how to correct them.

Answer

The Advantage
The mesh arranged in the model is quite adequate. On the right side of the body, the narrower
body, meshes were built by smaller or finer quadrilateral mesh for a better and more accurate
approximation of stress and strain. The transition to smaller body using triangle mesh is also a
good way to make a finite model. The meshes next to the triangle mesh (red hatched mesh) show
in Figure 1 (b) also made finer and smaller. Assumed that the boundary condition and the force
applied as figure 1 (a), the finer mesh right to the transition area will make the result to provide
more detail behaviour as higher stress may be occurs next to triangle mesh.

Figure 1. (a) Assumed boundary condition and Force Applied (b) finer mesh right to the triangle mesh

Disadvantage / Mistake
The mistake of the model is that the load and boundary condition is not defined. Because how the
mesh will be built, may also depend on how the load and boundary condition will be applied.
However, if the load and boundary condition is defined as figure 1 (a), the transition that using
intermediate nodes may result on incompatibility of stress and strain around the nodes. Then, the
mesh may be modified to Figure 2 with additional triangle mesh as transition element from the
smaller mesh to the bigger mesh.

Figure 2. Correction may applied to the mesh

7.3 What happens if the material property =0,5 in the plane strain case? Is
this possible? Explain.
Answer

As we know that concrete has poisson ratio v=0,15 and steel has v=0.25. the more higher the
passion ratio, the more malleable the material will behave, as rubber has v=0.48 - 0.5. It is
obvious that material with poisson ratio approaching 0.5 will behave like rubber, and may not
have a good behaviour to stand a compressive force (incompressible).

In the stiffness matrix [k], we have a term that contains poisson ratio as , which come from
shear stress or strain xy. When v=0.5 applied to the formula, the magnitude will value as zero (0),
caused to unnatural or error in the equation. In the literature (Logan 2007), we need a special
formulation to solve this kind of problem called a penalty formulation.

7.4 Under what conditions is the structure in Figure P74 a plane strain
problem? Under what conditions is the structure a plane stress problem?

Answer

A problem on figure P7-4 will be solved using plane stress if the body has considered thin
thickness, then the force may be assumed only act on x and y direction, and the force that act on z
direction may be assumed to be zero.

On the other hand, if the body has a considered very thick thickness, or we may say that the figure
P7-4 is a cross section of a considered thick or long body with constant shape of cross section, the
problem should be solved using plane strain. The body will be solved by an incremental
thickness, say 1 inch thickness, and assumed that the behaviour of the body will behaves
identically along the length of the body (say z direction), so the problem will be solved only
considering force act only x and y direction. Although both the end of the body will behave
differently, but some literatures say that, the behaviour of the incremental thickness may represent
the behaviour of the total body.

7.6 What thickness do you think is used in computer programs for plane strain
problems?
For a plane strain, the default value for some FEM program is 1.0 unit thickness used. However
this value is also have to be adjusted by the user, because1 unit thickness in inch is considered as
thick if the cross sectional has a radius 2 inch, but may said quite thin if cross sectional has 2 feet
radius.
7.7 Which one of the CST models shown below is expected to give the best
results for a cantilever beam subjected to an end shear load? Why?

Answer

If the model is subjected to general load, both moment and shear, the (a) may give the best result.
However, if the model subjected to only an end shear load, and only to find the responses to it, the

model (c) will give the best result, as the shear stress along the high of the body
will be detailed by the finest mesh increments along the high despite its high aspect ratio. The
literature (Logan 2007) indeed said that the aspect ratio of mesh element with lower aspect rasio
(more compact and regular form) would give the best result. However, there are exceptions that
high aspect ratio may produce a satisfactory result. As the body (c) only subjected and observed
only for shear load at the end of the body, the stress gradient between the end of the body to on
nodes the middle body does not included on consideration, then the high aspect ratio as body (c)
may be used for better result and faster calculation.